We hypothesize that improvements in the gut microbiota are capable of ameliorating gut permeability and, consequently, reducing systemic inflammation and the risk of frailty. This study aims to evaluate some effects of synbiotic supplementation on inflammatory markers and the body composition of the elderly at risk of frailty. In a double-blind study that lasted three months, 17 elderly individuals fulfilling one frailty criteria (grip strength) were randomly distributed into two groups: SYN (n = 9), daily intake of synbiotic (6 g Frutooligossacarides, 108 to 109 CFU Lactobacillus paracasei, 108 to 109 CFU Lactobacillus rhamnosus, 108 to 109 CFU Lactobacillus acidophilus and 108 to 109 CFU Bifidobacterium lactis), or placebo (maltodextrin; PLA; n = 8). Subjects were analyzed for anthropometric measurements, bioelectric impedance with vectorial analysis (BIVA), IL-6 and TNF-α. A comparison between groups did not show any difference for the variables investigated. In turn, individual analysis of electrical impedance (BIVA) demonstrated that the majority of SYN individuals maintained or improved their tissue hydration, when compared to the PLA group after supplementation. In conclusion, three months of synbiotic supplementation did not promote any significant changes in inflammatory cytokines or body composition, but demonstrated a trend towards a preservation of hydration status in apparently healthy elderly individuals.

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BACKGROUND: Aging is a complex process marked by alterations on gut functioning and physiology, accompanied by an increase on the inflammatory status, leading to a scenario called “inflammaging”. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a synbiotic substance on systemic inflammation, gut functioning of community-dwelling elders. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis from a randomized clinical trial, lasting 24 weeks, including 49 elders, distributed into two groups: SYN (n=25), which received a synbiotic substance (Frutooligossacaride 6g, Lactobacillus paracasei LPC-31 109 to 108 UFC, Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 109 to 108 UFC, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM 109 to 108 UFC e Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 109 to 108 UFC), or PLA (n=24), receiving placebo. The evaluations consisted of serum IL-10 e TNF-α (after overnight fasting), evaluation of chronic constipation (by Rome III Criteria) and faeces types (by Bristol Stool Form Scale). Data were compared before and after the supplementation time, and between groups. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between baseline and final values of serum inflammatory markers. Some subtle beneficial changes were observed in SYN, concerning both gut functioning and faeces types. CONCLUSION: From our data, synbiotic supplementation showed a subtle benefit in gut functioning in apparently healthy community-dwelling elders. Our findings can suggest that the benefits in healthy individuals were less expressive than the ones presented in studies with individuals previously diagnosed as dysbiosis. Future studies, comparing elders with and without gut dysbiosis can confirm our findings.

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The ventilatory threshold (VT) is considered an index of cardiorespiratory fitness and has been shown to reflect metabolic alterations with age. Cardiovascular and metabolic changes during aging have been shown to differ between women and men; however, it is unclear if physical activity has a similar impact on these changes between sexes. PURPOSE:To determine the association between daily physical activity, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), and VT in older women and men. METHODS:Healthy women (n=24, 65 ± 6 yrs) and men (n=18, 65 ± 5 yrs) performed a maximal graded treadmill test to volitional fatigue. Pulmonary gas exchange was measured during exercise using indirect calorimetry. Ventilatory equivalents for oxygen and carbon dioxide and V-slope method were used to estimate VT. Daily physical activity was measured using accelerometers worn for 4 days. VO2max and VT were normalized to DEXA-derived fat-free mass. RESULTS:Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was similar between sexes (women: 84 ± 40 vs. men: 109 ± 51 min/day, P=0.09). Women had lower VO2max than men (P<0.05), but VO2 at VT was similar between sexes (women: 23 ± 5 vs. men: 24 ± 5 ml/kg/min). MVPA was associated with VO2max in women (r=0.49, P<0.05) and men (r=0.54, P<0.05); however, MVPA showed an association with VT in men (r=0.57, P<0.05) but not women (r=0.31, P=0.14).CONCLUSION: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with VT in older men but not women. This finding suggests that alterations in the ventilatory threshold may require higher levels of habitual physical activity in older women. CONCLUSIONS:The findings of our study indicate that a greater body fat in some endurance-trained athletes would not be explained by the data of maximal exercise and/or total caloric intake, but may be explained by percentage of caloric intake from the fat.

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